MORE COMFORTABLE FOR YOU. Ruth: I'LL FEEL LIKE I'M DREAMING! FOR FAMILIES LIVING PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK, AND THAT'S A LOT OF FAMILIES, THIS IS WHAT MAKES IT TOUGH TO EAT HEALTHY. GET A HAMBURGER FOR A DOLLAR BUT A SALAD FOR $5. Devin: AND NOW LOCAL STORES ARE TRYING TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR CERTAIN LOW-INCOME FAMILIES BY ESSENTIALLY DOUBLING THEIR MONEY WHEN THEY SHOP. OUR LAUREN PODELL EXPLAINS HOW IT WORKS. Lauren: CHERYL FROM GUYER FARMS IN ARMADA HAS BEEN HELPING LOW-INCOME FAMILIES BUY MORE MICHIGAN PRODUCE AT EASTERN MARKET FOR YEARS. THANKS TO DOUBLE-UP FOOD BUCKS, IT SWAPS CASH FOR COINS AND MATCHES DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR UP TO $20. SO BRIDGE CARDHOLDERS CAN BUY HEALTHY AND LOCAL. MORE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES FOR KIDS AND FAMILIES. AT THE SAME TIME, THE VERY SAME DOLLARS GO RIGHT INTO THE POCKET OF MICHIGAN FARMERS. Lauren: THE PRESIDENT OF FAIR FOOD NETWORK SAYS THIS IS SUCH A WIN-WIN, THEY'RE MAKING IT BIGGER. WE'VE EXPANDED ON A PILOT BASIS TO THREE GROCERY STORES IN DETROIT. IT'S THE FIRST SUCH PROGRAM IN THE COUNTRY. Lauren: AND THAT BROUGHT LOCAL 4 CAMERAS TO HONEY BEE MARKET. YOU'LL HAVE NO PROBLEM FINDING THE MICHIGAN-GROWN PRODUCTS. LOOK FOR THE STICKER. RADISHES, BEETS, SWISS CHARD, ALL KINDS OF GREENS AND BLUEBERRIES. Lauren: 85% OF DETROITERS SHOP FOR STORES OVER MARKET. WE SPEND $10 AT A MINIMUM FROM YOUR BRIDGE CARD, YOU WILL GET A REWARD CARD WORTH $10. Lauren: THE PROGRAM STARTED JULY 1 THROUGH OCTOBER. SO START DOUBLING UP ON MICHIGAN BLUEBERRIES, SQUASH, AND SPINACH TODAY. SHOPPERS HAVE 20 MICHIGAN-GROWN PRODUCTS, BUT BY THE END OF THE WEEK, IT WILL ALL BE LOCAL PRODUCE AND AVAILABLE FOR THE

DETROIT -

Local vendors from Eastern Market have been helping low income families buy more Michigan produce for years, thanks to Double Up Food Bucks. It's a program for bridge card holders that swaps cash for coins and matches dollar-for-dollar up to twenty bucks, so families can buy healthy and local.

"That means more fresh fruits and vegetables on the dinner table for kids and all of that money goes straight into the pockets of Michigan farmers, can't beat that," said Oran Hesterman, president of Fair Food Network.

Double Up Food Bucks started four years ago and was only available for bridge card holders when they shopped at farmers markets. But Hesterman says the program is such a win-win, Fair Food Network is making it bigger.

"We've expanded this year on a pilot basis," Hesterman said. "We're bringing the program to three grocery stores in Detroit, the first of its kind in the country."

The US Department of Agriculture approved the program for only select stores in downtown Detroit. The three grocery stores participating in Double Up Food Bucks in 2013 from July 1st - October 31st.

So why the expansion? Hesterman says according to a poll, Fair Food Networks learned that 85 percent of Detroiter's do their shopping at grocery stores over shopping at a freash food market and they want to make sure people know about this program and are taking fulladvantage of it.

"Radishes, beets, fresh greens and blueberries, all Michigan grown and even more affordable to Michigan families," said Hesterman.

To find the hundreds of Michigan Markets already involved in the program along with the new grocery store pilot visit: doubleupfoodbucks.org

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